New Delhi (AsiaNews / Agencies) - John Kerry, U.S. Secretary of State arrives in India today for a three-day visit during which he will co-direct the fifth India-US Strategic Dialogue, along with the Indian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sushma Swaraj. During his stay in New Delhi, Kerry will also meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The trip is the first high-level meeting between the
Obama administration and the new Indian
government led by Modi. Kerry is leading a
delegation that includes, among others,
Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzkerin.
" We already have very
strong people-to-people relations - says Democrat Joe Crowley - and our two countries should be doing everything we can to work together
more and more "
According to many analysts, Kerry's presence will be an opportunity
to plan Narendra Modi's visit to Washington in September, where he will meet U.S. President Barack
Obama.
Until a little over three months ago Narendra Modi was considered "persona
non grata" by the United States, which
since 2005 denied him an entry
visa for "severe violations of religious freedom," according to the International Religious
Freedom Act. He was chief minister of
Gujarat during the massacres between
Hindus and Muslims in 2002, of which
he is considered by many to be
responsible.
After
his election as Prime Minister
of India, speculation started over
the attitude adopted by the
United States. On 11 July,
Obama extended a formal invitation to
Modi to visit in
the United States in September and to "work together" to make their bilateral relationship a "significant partnership" for the 21st century.